Table Of Contents

Introducing Cisco NetFlow Generation Appliance

The Cisco NetFlow Generation Appliance (NGA) complements best-in-class switching platforms and off loads the NetFlow generation function. It receives packets from up to four 10-Gigabit ports and exports NetFlow data to up to six collectors in NetFlow version 5, 9, and IPFIX format.

You can deploy Cisco NGA at key observation places such as server access layer, fabric path domains, and internet exchange points to help simplify operational manageability. Simple to set up and easy to configure, the appliance is based on the UCS C200 server, so you can specify your specific configuration as needed. To set up your appliance, connect it to your switch devices and collectors, and set up a minimum set of flow components.

You can configure Cisco NGA using the lightweight graphical user interface or a more detailed command line interface.

Understand the User Interface and Command Line

If you are familiar with advanced features of NetFlow and the use of a command line interface (CLI), you can configure the software using the CLI. For a comparison of what differences exist between the CLI and the user interface, see Table 1-2, "Feature Comparison."

All tasks that are in the graphical user interface can also be completed by using the command line interface (CLI). For example:

Configuration Overview

Configure the Cisco NetFlow Generation Appliance using the basic workflow in Table 1-3. You can choose the path you want to take to configure your flow components. This user guide contains quick and advanced workflows and explains why to use each workflow.